Apparatus for maintaining windshields free of ice and snow



E. J. FINAN Dec. 8, 1959 APPARATUS FOR MAINTAINING WINDSHIELDS FREE OF ICE AND SNOW 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 14, 1957 INVENTORI EDWARD J. FlNAN BY @Tdml ATT' Y Dec. 8, 1959 E. J. FINAN APPARATUS FOR MAINTAINING WINDSHIELDS FREE OF ICE AND SNOW Filed Au 14, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 EDWARD J. FINAN BY 4,1, QQLDM,

ATT'Y E. J. FINAN Dec. 8, 1959 APPARATUS FOR MAINTAINING WINDSHIELDS FREE OF ICE AND SNOW 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug 14, 1957 HQ- 33 %r IN'\'"ENTORI EDWARD J. FINAN BY @4- ATT'Y 2,916,326 Patented Dec. 8, 1959 APPARATUS FOR MAINTAINING wnvnsrnnnns 7 FREE OF ICE AND SNOW Edward J. Finan, Chicago, Ill.

Application August 14, 1957, Serial No. 678,171

4 Claims. (Cl. 296-91) This invention relates to devices for maintaining windshields of vehicles free of rain, ice and snow at the place where maximum visibility is required.

Another object is to provide such'an apparatus wherein the wiper blades may be maintained free of any accumulation of ice or snow.

A further object is to provide such an apparatus which is simple and economical of construction and convenient in operation and the parts of which may be easily and readily accessible for inspection, renewal, or repair.

Other and further objects of this invention will become more apparent hereinafter as the same becomes better understood from an examination of the specification and claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein;

Fig. 1 represents a perspective, fragmentary front end view of an airplane equipped with devices for maintaining spaced areas of the windshield of the plane free of ice, rain and snow which devices embody this invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l, but showing more details of one of the wind, rain and snow deflectors and controls therefor for use in cooperation with the exterior windshield wiping means;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view, in perspective, with parts removed, of the controls for the wind, rain and snow deflectors;

Fig. 4 is a further enlarged side elevation, partly fragmentary, view of the control mechanism for the wind, rain and snow deflectors;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken at the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken at the line 66 of Fig.4;

Referring to the drawings more particularly, reference character 1 generally designates the front end of the fuselage of an airplane provided with a windshield 2 and a top 3.

In Figs. 2 to 6, inclusive, is shown a wind, rain, snow and ice deflector generally designated 25 for directionalizing the wind, rain, snow and ice away from the face of the windshield.

Each device 25 includes a four-bladed propeller 26 freely and horizontally mounted at the upper end of a vertically adjustable rod 27. The rod 27 is also rotatable to adjustably and angularly directionalize the axis of the propeller in a horizontal plane about the vertical axis of said rod as well as being vertically adjustable to provide for raising and lowering said propeller so as to cause the wind, rain, snow and ice in the path of the airplane to be deflected away from either side of the windshield.

The means for accomplishing this combined horizon- ;al and vertical adjustment of the propeller 26 is as folows:

The rod 27 extends vertically through a suitable airtight gland, stuffing box or seal 28 in the body of the fuselage centrally and forward of the windshield 2. The lower end 29 of the rod 27 is longiudinally splined and is adapted to be driven by a bevel gear 30 fitted thereon so as to permit vertical relative movement of said rod with respect to said gear. The lower end of the rod 29 is attached to the upper end of a vertical bar 31 having a series of vertically spaced teeth 32 in mesh with a gear 33 on a horizontal sleeve 34 extending through the wall 36 of the cock-pit of the fuselage 1. The inner end of the sleeve 34 is integrally attached to the upper part of a gear housing 35. The upper section 35 is closed by a lower gear housing'section 36a attached thereto and. provided with a bearing 37 for a pin 38 at right angles: to the axis of the sleeve 34. The lower end of the pin.-

38 is provided with a threaded portion 39 to which is: screwed and pinned a coaxial handle 40. This handle 40' may be manipulated by the operator of the plane'to rotate the sleeve 34 about its axis to rotate the gear 3310 raise or lower the propeller 26.

The handle 40 may also be manipulated by said operator about its own axis to adjustably train the propeller 26 in a horizontal plane about the axis of the rod 27 I by means which will now be described. A shaft 41 extends coaxially through the sleeve 34. At its outer end the shaft 41 has a chain gear 42 which drives a chain 43 connected to a chain gear 44 on a horizontal shaft 45 paral lel to shaft 41. This shaft 45 has a bevel gear 46 which is in mesh with gear 30. A bracket 47 attached to the fuselage holds the gear 30 against vertical movement but permits vertical movement of the splined shaft portion 29. A bevel gear 48 on the outer end of shaft 41 within the housing 35 is in mesh with a bevel gear 49 on the upper end of pin 38 so that manipulation of handle 40 about its own axis rotates gear 49, gear 48, shaft 41, gear 42, gear 44, shaft 45, gear 46, gear 30, and rod 27 to train or directionalize propeller 26 in a horizontal plane about the axis of said rod.

Thus the deflector-propeller 26 may be both elevated (or lowered) and oriented by manipulation of the handle 40.

Means are provided for locking the propeller in any predetermined position of elevation or orientation. A threaded and flanged circular member 51 is welded to the wall 36 of the cockpit and contains a ring 52 of resilient material such a rubber. A knurled cap 50 is adjustably threaded to the member 51. The sleeve 34 extends through the member 51, ring 52 and cap 50 and is provided with an integral collar 53 so that when the cap 50 is tightened manually it holds said collar against the ring 52 and binds said sleeve against rotation. This. holds the propeller against being raised or lowered until cap 50 is again loosened. A similar knurled nut 54 is threaded on the portion 39 of pin 38 so that it may be turned upwardly against the bottom of housing section 37 to bind the handle 40 against rotation about its axis. This prevents the propeller being further oriented until screw 54 is again loosened.

The operation and advantages of the foregoing devices will be apparent without further description.

I am aware that many changes may be made and details varied without departing from the principles of my invention and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the details shown and described.

I claim: I

1. In an automotive vehicle provided with a windshield, a wind deflector mounted on said vehicle forwardly of the windshield for directionalizing the flow of air away from a predetermined area of said windshield and means manually operable by the operator of the vehicle for adjusting said deflector both vertically and in a horizontal angle to control same, said last means including a handle operable about one axis to effect adjustment of the deflector vertically and operable about another axis 3 at an angle to the first axis to effect adjustment ofcthecdeflector horizontally.

2. In an automotive vehicleprovided with a windshield,

awind: deflector. mounted; onsaid: vehicle forwardly of;

the'windshield: for directionalizing.the:flow-of air? away from a-predetermined area-of said windshield and means, manually operable by the: operator. of th'CzVBhiQlfl; fora adjusting 1 saiddeflector bothvertically and in a;hon"zon-- tal angle to control; same,v said. lasta means: including a handle'operable. about one axis to. eflect: adjustmentzof thedeflector vertically and. operable. about another. axis at anangleto thefirsti. axis to effect adjustmentof the:

deflector horizontally, and means. adjacent said handle and also operable by theroperator of; said vehicle tozlock ing.said deflector inlthe'horizontal angle: to which-ithasthe flow of air away from a predetermined area: on saidwindshieldand means manually operable by the operator of the vehiclefor adjustingsaid deflector both vertically and in a horizontal angle to controlsame, said last means including a handle within: reach of said operator operable about its longitudinal axis to effect adjustment of the deflector in one-plane and operable about an axis at right" angles'to'said' axis to effect adjustment of the deflector in a plane at right angles to the first plane.

4. In an automotive vehicle provided with a windshield,.the combination of a wind deflector mountedon.

References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,801,373 Stevens Apr. 21, 1931 2,125,154 Dillon July 26, 1938 2,333,854 Fuller Nov. 9, 1 943 2,562,302 Downey July 31, 1951 2,639,455 Schwarzmann May 26, 1953 2,710,455 Schulein- June 14, 1955 2,781,227 Black Feb. 12, 1957 2,790,676 McMurray Apr; 30, 1957' 2,792,254 Hagglund May 14, 1957 2,823,072 Pod'olan Feb. 11, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,084,686 France Jan, 21, 1955. 1,087,430 France Feb. 23, 1955 

